Collapsible rail section for directing bowling ball into storage pocket



arch 14, 1967 Filed Aug. 5, 1963 S. C. PEPLIN ETAL COLLAPSIBLE RAIL SECTION FOR DIRECTING BOWLING BALL INTO STORAGE POCKET 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS STEPHEN C. PEP LIN and ERNES C. WEBB BY .7 'M W 7 their ATTORNEY M, 1967 s. c. PEPLIN ETQLD 3,309,035

COLLA BLE RAI EC N F0 IRECT I NG B0 NG BALL TO ORAGE POCKET 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1963 Q, A g

/ mm. 4 N5 .9 LL

ZNVENTORS STEPHEN C.PEPLIN and ERN ST QWEBB their ATTORNEY March 1967 s. c. PEPLIN ETAL COLLAPSIBLE RAIL SECTION FOR DIRECTING BOWLING BALL INTO STORAGE POCKET 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 5 1963 INVENTORS STEPHEN C.PEPLIN and 2mg; C.WEBB

fheirATTORNEY United States Patent 3,309,085 Patented Mar. 14, 1967 Free 3,399,085 COLLAPSIBLE RAIL SECTION FOR DIRECTLNG BOWLHNG BALL lNTQ STORAGE POCKET Stephen C. Peplin, North Olmsted, and Ernest C. Webb,

Bay Village, Qhio, assignors to Cleveland Trust Company, Cleveland, Uhio, trustee Filed Aug. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 299,927 Claims. (Cl. 273-49) This invention relates to apparatus for returning balls in a bowling game to selected positions for each player in the game at the approach area of a bowling alley, and more particularly to apparatus for directing a bowling ball from a main return track into a preselected storage pocket for that ball.

Although not necessarily limited thereto, the present invention is particularly adapted for use with a system such as that described in co-pending application Ser. No. 295,433, filed July 16, 1963, wherein each bowling ball used in a bowling game is deposited in a specified storage pocket, and means are provided for returning the ball to that storage pocket at the completion of each frame in a game. Such apparatus is particularly adapted for use with automatic scoring, totalizing and printing apparatus which requires that whenever a bowler prepares to bowl, a switch must be closed to connect his scoring circuitry into the system. Although the switch closure may be accomplished manually, it has been found that in some cases a bowler may forget to manually close the appropriate switch. In some cases, the requirement for closing a switch each time a bowler prepares to bowl may be such as to discourage him from using the equipment.

In the system shown in the aforesaid copending application Ser. No. 295,433, the balls are provided with specified storage pockets equipped with switch devices which will be actuated to connect a specific bowlers scoring circuitry into the system when the ball is removed from that pocket and delivered down the alley. Thus, whenever a bowler prepares to bowl and lifts his ball out of its associated storage pocket, his totalizing and storage unit will be automatically connected to the master circuit of the scoring unit when the ball is delivered without requirin g him to depress a pushbutton or the like.

In order to control the scoring circuitry from switches located on ball storage pockets it is, of course, necessary that each bowlers ball be placed in an assigned storage pocket when not in use such that when that ball is removed from the pocket, the correct storage unit in the scoring circuitry will be activated. Accordingly, means are provided for directing a ball from the bowling alley return track to a specific storage pocket, the arrangement being such that when a bowler removes his ball from its associated storage pocket at the end of a frame, his ball will be returned to a specified storage pocket at the completion of the frame. The system is such that when the second ball is to be delivered in a frame, that ball will not be directed from the main storage rack into a storage pocket at the end of the return track, but rather will remain in the main return track. Thus, when a second ball is to be delivered in a frame, the bowler will merely lift it from the main storage rack rather than its assigned storage pocket.

In the system shown in the aforesaid application Ser. No. 295,433, the means for directing a bowling ball from the main return track into its assigned storage pocket comprises a reciprc-cable rail section which is normally held in alignment with the main return track, but which can be released such that it will move downwardly under the weight of a ball to thereby cause the ball to fall into a storage pocket at the side of the main return track. This system, although workable, may in some cases require a positive stop for the :ball when it reaches the reciprocable rail section to prevent the ball from rolling over that section before it is deposited into its assigned storage pocket.

As an overall object, the present invention provides a new and improved means for directing a bowling ball from the main storage rack into an assigned storage pocket.

More specifically, an object of the invention resides in the provision of means for directing a bowling ball from a main storage racket into an assigned storage pocket, which means includes a positive stop for the ball to prevent it from rolling beyond the location of its assigned storage pocket.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of a pair of adjacent bowling alleys showing the overall arrangement of a system for returning bowling balls to designated storage pockets at the completion of each frame in a game;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the invention for directing a bowling ball from a main return track to a specified storage pocket;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III- Ill of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV--IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 3 showing the solenoid actuating mechanism for the ball return mechanism; and

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the collapsible rail sections employed in the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, a pair of adjacent bowling alleys L and R are each provided with a pin deck 1%? at the forward end of the alley and a foul line 12 at the opposite end. Ahead of the foul line 12 of each alley is an approach area 14; while behind the pin deck 10 is a pit, generally indicated 'at 16. At the back of each pit 16 is a backstop 18 which is struck by each bowling ball delivered down the alley.

On either side of each alley L and R are gutters 20, and between the alleys L and R is a main ball return track 22 which terminates between the approach areas 14 in a ball return rack arrangement, generally indicated at 24. As shown, the main ball return track 22 is connected to two branches 26 and 28 adjacent the pit areas 16. In the usual case, automtic pin-spotting machines will be employed to set the pins on the pin decks 10. These automatic pin-spotting machines are such as to deposit balls in the branches 26 and 28 from whence they are both fed to the common ball return track 22 and thence to the ball return rack arrangement 24.

In the area between the approach areas 14 and behind the ball return rack arrangement 24 is a console 30 which houses automatic scoring, totalizing and printing apparatus such as that shown in copending application Ser. No. 175,865, filed February 9, 1962, now Patent No. 3,124,355, and assigned to the assignee of the present application. Actually, the console 30 houses two automatic scoring, totalizing and printing units, one for each of the alleys L and R. The automatic scoring equipment within the console 30 is such that as each bowler delivers balls in a frame, the ball results of each ball will be printed on a score sheet and the frame score added to his previous total score at the completion of the frame in circuitry within the console. In addition, upon completion of a frame, his instantaneous score will be printed in his frame box or space corresponding to the frame being played if no marks have been made in that frame. If marks have 3 beenmade in the frame being played, then the score is not printed on the score sheet at that time but stored preparatory to printing afterthe next or successive frame in accordance with the .rules of the American Bowling Congress.

In the usual case, a projector, not shown, will be provided in combination with the console 38 for the purpose of projecting the images of the score sheets onto screens, not shown, above the alleys L and R. One type of projector which may be used for this purpose is shown, for example, in copending application Ser. No. 200,555, filed June 6, 1962, now Patent. No. 3,257,898, and as signed to the assignee of the present application.

With reference now to the ball return rackarrangement- 24,,it comprises a base 32 (FIG. 3) which supports 'a pair of rails 34- and 36-along which balls may roll to a second ball storage area 38. On either side of the rails 34 and 36 are cup-shaped ball storage pockets 48R and 40L (FIG. 3) adapted to receive balls 42 from the rails 34 and 36. As will hereinafter be seen, the arrangement is such that the balls 42 on one side of the rails 34 and 36 are provided for one team in league play; Whereas the balls on the other side of the rails 34 and 36 are provided for the other team. Furthermore, means, described in detail in the aforesaid copending application Ser. No. 295,433, filed July 16, 1963, are provided for returning each players ball to the particular storage pocket 40R or 48L from which it was removed at the completion of a frame. If a ball is removed from astorage pocket, delivered down alley L or R, and less than ten pins are knocked down with that first. ball, then a second ball must be delivered in that frame in accordance with the rules of the American Bowling Congress. Accordingly,.the system is such that when a second ball is to be delivered, the .ball is returned to the second ball storage area 38 rather than to a storage pocket 40R .or 40L. When, however, the. frame is completed, eachball is returned to its assigned storage pocket ready to be picked up by the bowler in the next frame.

Supported onthe base 32 are a plurality of castings 44 (FIGS. 2-4) each of which comprises a lower, in verted T-shaped section 46 having six blocks integrally cast to its upper extremity. Three of the blocks 48 are slanted in one direction as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4; whereas the other. threeblocks 50 are slanted in the opposite direction. Extending through the casting 44 is a shaft 52 which extends across two spaced slots 54 and 56 (FIG. 2) provided along the length of the T-shaped section 46. Pivotally supported on the shaft '52, on either side thereof, are the ball storage pockets 40R and 40L (FIG. 3). The ball storage pocket 40L, for example, is supported on a pair of L-shaped arms 62 and 64 (FIG. 2) each of which is pivotally connected to the shaft 52. Encircling the shaft 52 is a coil spring 66 having one end secured to the casting '44 as at.68' (FIG. 4) and its other end passed throughan opening 70 in the L-shaped arm 64; With this arrangement, the spring 66 will normally urge the ball storage pocket upwardly into the position shown by the pocket 40R in FIG. 3. When, however, a ball 42 is deposited in the pocket, its weight will overcome the force of the spring 66, thereby forcing the ball storage pocket downwardly into the position shown by the ball storagepocket 40L in FIG. 3.

The ball'storage pocket 40R, like storage pocket 40L, has a pair of L-shaped arms 72 and 74 (FIG. 2) which are pivotally supported on the shaft 52 in interleaving relationship with respect to the arms 62 and 64 for the storage pocket 40L. A second coil spring 76 (FIG. 2) serves the same purpose as coil spring 66 for the storage pocket 40L in that it urges pocket 40Rupwardly into the position shown in FIG. 3. Although coil springs 66 and 76 are shown herein for the purpose of absorbing the shock-as'the ball drops into a pocket, and forelevating the pocket when the ball is removed, it should be understood that hydraulic or similar shock absorbers can be used in combination with the springs for this purpose.

Asv shown in FIG. 3, each of the ball storage pockets 48R and 40L comprises .an upper ring 77 to which is welded a downwardly-depending bar or strap 79 having a lower portion. 83 extending parallel to the ring 77. Mounted on portion 83 is a ring or pedestal 81 having a diameter just large enough to span a thumb hole in the ball. The pedestal 81lifts the ball sufficiently so that in the position shown by pocket-40L, there is sufiicientclean' ance at and 87 to prevent wedging into the main guide ring 77. With this. arrangement, it is possible to very easily rotate the ball on the rounded, annular projection 89 of pedestal 81 so that the bowler can rotate the ball to a position where it can be picked up using the finger holes. At the same time, the ring 77 prevents lateral displacement of the ball and guides it into .the pocket with the ball initially striking area 85 as shown by the broken outline of the ball in connection with'pocket 40R. Thereafter, the ball pushes the pocket 40R downwardly against the force of spring 76, whereupon the ball becomes seated on pedestal 81 with clearance at 85 and 87 as mentioned-above.

When either ,of'the ballstorage pockets 46R or 40L is in the position shown by pocket 40L in FIG. 3, it will actuate a limit switch .91 which indicates that the ball is in its pocket. This limit switch is used in conjunction with the circuitry shown in the aforesaid copending application 1 Ser. No- 295,433, filed July 16, 1963, for returning a ball to a selected one of the storage pockets and for automatically connecting a particular players circuit into the scoring system in console 30 when the ball for that player is removed from its pocket.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the rails 34 and36 are divided into a plurality of spaced, stationaryshort sec.- tions 78 which are supported on the base 32 by means not shown. Between the spaced sections 78' are the castings 44 which carry, on blocks 48 and 50, collapsible rail sections 80 and 82. As best shown in FIG. 6, each of the collapsible rail sections 80 and 82 comprises a pair of shafts or posts 84 and 86 which extend upwardly from the end blocks 48 or 50 as the case may be. Reciprocably carried in the center block 48 or 50 is a shaft 88 adapted to slide in a bore 90 (FIG. 3) provided in the center block 48 or 50.- As best shown in FIG. 2, the one bore 90 is oifset with respect to theother so that the two shafts 88 can crisscross. Each shaft. 88, as best shown in FIG. 6, is provided with a reduced diameter lower portion 92. Encircling this lower portion 92, as shown in FIG. 3, is a coil spring 94 positioned between a shoulder 96 on the shaft 88 and the lowerend of.

the bore '90. The reduced diameter portion92 of shaft 88 extends through an opening in the lower end of bore 90 and is provided with a cap 98 which limits upward movement of shaft 88 under the force of spring 94.v

Referring again to FIG. 6, carried on the top of shaft 88 is a central rail member 100 which is pivotally connected at its one end to an end of a second rail member, 182, this rail member 102 having its other. end pivotally connected to the top of post 86. In a somewhat similar manner, the other end of the rail member 100 is pivotally connected to one end of a third rail member-104. In this case, however, the rail member 104 is pivotally conw nected intermediate its ends to the top of post 84 such that when the shaft 88 and central .rail member 100 move downwardly into the full-line position shown in FIG. 6, a forward extension108 on-the third rail mem-. her 184 will move into thepath of the ball 42'(indicated by arrow 107) to'thereby prevent it from rolling beyond the collapsible rail section. It will be noted that the central rail member 100 is pivotally connected to the end rail membersltiZ and 104 through slotted connections 118 and 112, thereby permitting upward movement of the members 100, 102 and 104 into the dottedline positions shown in FIG. 6 or downward movement.

into the full-line positions shown. With the members 100, 102 and 194 in the dotted-line position, they effectively form part of the rails 34 and 36. That is, they are then coaxial with the vshort rail sections 78 shown in FIG. 2. When, however, the shaft 38 and central member 1% move downwardly into the full-line position shown in FIG. 6, the ball 42 will strike the projection 198, and will roll laterally out to the side and over the collapsed rail section.

The force of spring 94 is such that it will normally urge the rail members 100, 102 and 194 upwardly into the dotted-line position of FIG. 6 where they are aligned with the short rail sections 78. When, however, a ball passes over the collapsible rail section, its weight will cause the shaft 88 to move downwardly, thereby permitting the ball to roll into the storage pocket 40R or 40L as the case may be. Accordingly, some means must be provided in order to hold the shaft 88 in its uppermost position at all times except when it is desired to direct a ball from the rails 34 and 36 into the storage pocket associated with that particular shaft 88 and collapsible rail section.

In order to hold the members 100, 102 and 1194 in their uppermost positions shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6, the solenoid arrangement, best shown in FIG. 5, is provided. In shaft 88 is a bore 114 adapted to receive a pin 116. The pin 116 is carried in a bore 118 in the center block 48 or 59 and is adapted to reciprocate from a position where its forward end is in the bore 114 to a position where it is out of the bore 114, thereby permitting the shaft 88 and rail member 1% to move downwardly under the weight of a ball. In order to move the pin 116 out of the bore 114, a solenoid 126 is provided together with a lever 122. As shown, the lever 122 is pivotally connected to the end block 48 or 50 as at 124 and is also connected, through slotted connections, to the actuating plunger of solenoid 120 and the outer end of pin 116 as at 126 and 128, respectively. When the solenoid 120 is not energized, a coil spring 130 will force the pin 116 into the bore 118 in shaft 38; the position of the bore 114 being such that the members 106, 102 and 164 are aligned with the stationary short rail sections 78 when the pin 115 is inserted therein. Thus, assuming that the solenoid 12%} is not energized, the members 1%, 162 and 1594 will be held in alignment with the short sections 73, thereby permitting the ball to roll beyond that section. If none of the pins 116 in the various col.- lapsible rail sections are withdrawn from their associated bores 118, the ball will roll to the second ball storage area 38 shown in FIG. 1. When, however, the solenoid 120 is energized and the pin 116 withdrawn from any collapsible rail section, that rail section will collapse to permit the ball to roll into the storage 40R or 40L,

Although the invention has been shown in connection with a certain specific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and arrangement of parts may be made to suit requirements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination with a bowling alley having a main ball return track terminating at a storage rack which includes a pair of spaced parallel rail devices on which the balls roll; the improvement of means for directing a ball from said rail devices into ball storage pockets adjacent the rack comprising collapsible rail sections spaced along said rail devices with each rail section being adjacent an associated one of said storage pockets, each of said collapsible rail sections comprising first, second and third rail members, the first and central rail member being pivotally connected at its Opp0- site ends to said second and third rail members, and means pivotally connecting said second and third rail members to fixed points whereby upward movement of the central rail member will move all of said rail members into alignment with an associated one of said rail devices while downward movement of the central rail member will cause said second and third rail members to assume downwardly-extending angular positions relative to said associated rail device with the first rail member being generally parallel to said associated rail device at all times.

2. In combination with a bowling alley having a main ball return track terminating at a storage rack which includes a pair of spaced parallel rail devices on which the balls roll; the improvement of means for directing a ball from said rail devices into ball storage pockets adjacent the rack comprising collapsible rail sections spaced along said rail devices with each rail sec tion being adjacent an associated one of said storage pockets, each of said collapsible rail sections comprising first, second and third rail members, the first and central rail member being pivotally connected at its opposite ends to one end of each of said second and third rail members, means pivotally connecting the other end of said second rail members to a fiXed point which is substantially aligned with the axis of an associated one of said rail devices, means pivotally connecting said third rail member intermediate its ends to a fixed point which is also substantially aligned with the axis of said one associated rail device, and means permitting downward movement of said first rail member from a position where all rail members are in alignment with said associated rail device to a position where the first rail member is parallel to but beneath said associated rail device, the third rail member providing an upward extension in said second position which acts as a positive stop for balls rolling along said rail devices.

3. In combination with a bowling alley having a main ball return track terminating at a storage rack which includes a pair of spaced parallel rail devices on which the balls roll; the improvement of means for directing a ball from said rail devices to ball storage pockets adjacent the rack comprising collapsible rail sections spaced along said rail devices with each rail section being adjacent an associated one of said storage pockets, each of said collapsible rail sections comprising first, second and third rail members, the first and central rail member being pivotally connected at its opposite ends to said second and third rail members, means pivotally connecting said second and third rail members to fixed points whereby upward movement of the central rail member will move all of said rail members into alignment with an associated one of said rail devices while downward movement of the central rail member will cause said second and third rail members to assume downwardly-extending angular positions relative to said associated rail device with the first rail member being generally parallel to said associated rail device, spring means urging said first rail member upwardly into alignment with said associated rail device, said spring means being such as to permit the first rail member to move downwardly under the weight of a ball, means for normally holding said first rail member in alignment with said one associated rail device such that all of the rail members will be in alignment with said one rail device and said first rail device will not move downwardly under the weight of a ball, and means for permitting said first rail member to move downwardly under the weight of a ball whereby the second and third rail members will assume the aforesaid downwardly-extending angular positions to permit a ball to roll from the rack into one of said storage pockets when it reaches the rail section associated with that one storage pocket.

4. In combination with a bowling alley having a main ball return track terminating at a storage rack which includes a pair of spaced parallel rail devices on which the balls roll; the improvement of means for directing a ball from said rail devices to ball storage pockets adjacent the rack comprising ,collapsible rail, sections spaced along said rail devices with each railisection being adjacent an associated one of said storage pockets, each of said collapsible rail sections comprising first, second and third rail members, the first and central rail member being pivotally connected at its opposite ends to ends of said second and third rail members, means pivotally connecting the other'end of said second rail member to a fixed point which is in substantial alignment'with said rail device, means pivotally connecting said third rail section intermediate its ends to afixed point which is in substantial alignment with said rail device, spring means urging said first rail member upwardly into a position where all of said rail members are in alignment with said rail device, said spring means being such as to permit the first rail member to-move downwardly under the weight of a ball whereby the second and third rail members will assume downwardly-extending angular positions relative tosaid rail device with the third rail member having a projection extending above the rail device to provide a positive stop for balls rolling along said rail device, means for normally holding said rail members in alignment with said rail device such that they will not move down-- 8 wardly under the weight of a ball, and means for permitting said one rail member to move downwardly under the weight of a bailwhereby. a ball will roll from the rack into an associated one of said storage pockets when it reaches that rail section.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein said third rail member follows said first and second rail members in the path of travel .of a ball on said rail devices.

References 'Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,280,332 4/1942 Whittle 273-47 X 3,011,648 12/1961 Einhorn 21l14 3,017,184 1/1962 Gruss 27343 3,042,402 7/1962 Ernst 273--47 3,071,376 1/1963 Ernst M 273-47 3,099,446 7/1963 Stegman et a1. 27349 3,105,684 10/1963 Setecka 273 -49 RlCI-IARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner;

ANTON O OECHSLE, DELBERT B. LOWE,

Examiners 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A BOWLING ALLEY HAVING A MAIN BALL RETURN TRACK TERMINATING AT A STORAGE RACK WHICH INCLUDES A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL RAIL DEVICES ON WHICH THE BALLS ROLL; THE IMPROVEMENT OF MEANS FOR DIRECTING A BALL FROM SAID RAIL DEVICES INTO BALL STORAGE POCKETS ADJACENT THE RACK COMPRISING COLLAPSIBLE RAIL SECTIONS SPACED ALONG SAID RAIL DEVICES WITH EACH RAIL SECTION BEING ADJACENT AN ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID STORAGE POCKETS, EACH OF SAID COLLAPSIBLE RAIL SECTIONS COMPRISING FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD RAIL MEMBERS, THE FIRST AND CENTRAL RAIL MEMBER BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS TO SAID SECOND AND THIRD RAIL MEMBERS, AND MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID SECOND AND THIRD RAIL MEMBERS TO FIXED POINTS WHEREBY UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE CENTRAL RAIL MEMBER WILL MOVE ALL OF SAID RAIL MEMBERS INTO ALIGNMENT WITH AN ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID RAIL DEVICES WHILE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE CENTRAL RAIL MEMBER WILL CAUSE SAID SECOND AND THIRD RAIL MEMBERS TO ASSUME DOWNWARDLY-EXTENDING ANGULAR POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID ASSOCIATED RAIL DEVICE WITH THE FIRST RAIL MEMBER BEING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID ASSOCIATED RAIL DEVICE AT ALL TIMES. 